Inspecting for lead paint, there are certain things I look for. The number one concern as an inspector is Where are the children? Where are the children playing? And… where’s the kitchen?
Why? Lead paint dust is invisible and what you can’t see can really harm you and your child. There is no known safe level of lead in the blood… especially for children under 6 years old.
Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning because they absorb 4–5 times as much… up to 50%... of ingested lead paint dust and lead paint chips.
Add to that… young children’s innate curiosity and their hand-to-mouth behavior resulting in mouthing and swallowing lead-containing or lead-coated objects. Here’s some food for thought… Children eat paint chips because they are crunchy and sweet to the taste. Think of it like a lead-filled cracker.
Once lead enters the body, it is distributed to organs such as the brain, kidneys, and liver. The body stores lead in the teeth and bones where it accumulates over time. Lead stored in your bones… might move into the blood during pregnancy, thus exposing the fetus.
That’s why it’s so important to have your children tested for their blood lead level.
So… what do you do about decaying lead paint and lead dust?
1 - Visit LeadPaintDetectives.com for our 2-page brochure Creating a Lead-Safe Home - The Basics. This two-page brochure helps explain the basics of encapsulating lead paint and cleaning.
2 - Ask your doctor… Was my child tested for blood lead levels?
3 – Test your child for their blood lead level.
Test your child for lead poisoning at 1-800-424 LEAD or 1-800-424-5323